1911.E2.80.931949 De Bernales Residence Cottesloe Civic Centre

in 1911 pennefather sold house claude aldo de bernales, mining entrepreneur, , wife bessie. de bernales @ time had amassed modest fortune dealing in mine machinery in western australian gold fields , managing director of kalgoorlie foundry limited. go on become immensely wealthy, organising complex investment schemes in mining companies , attracting significant investment western australia s mining industry.

by 1913 had renamed house overton lodge after birthplace in brixton, england. in 1920s de bernales added garages, billiard room , made changes interior. began make improvements grounds, establishing large rose garden in south west corner , tennis court below summer house. in 1936 entered agreement cottesloe municipal council transform land west property marine parade model garden estate. overton gardens estate comprise 25 houses designed according latest ideas england , continent. land endowed municipal purposes , housed original courts of cottesloe tennis club adjacent warnham road. reserves act (no 32 of 1935) allowed sale of land providing proceeds of sale used extend napier street coast, improve recreational reserve north , relocate tennis courts current site on broome street. while tennis courts moved, economic conditions , outbreak of war in 1939 meant model estate did not eventuate.

at same time de bernales commissioned melbourne architect bernard evans remodel house. plan involved dramatic change in appearance federation queen anne style spanish mission style. alterations , additions included study, library, dining room, kitchen , 3 new bedrooms adjoining bathrooms. in public rooms extensive use made of french-polished jarrah panelling on walls , ceilings , jarrah parquetry on floors. local architect samuel rosenthal thought have designed jarrah panelling. house furnished antiques , chandeliers featured in reception hall. surrounding sand dunes levelled , soil trucked in darling ranges establish expansive gardens , lawns west. 3,600 foot italianate balustrade wall designed rosenthal built , still surrounds property. massive water storage tanks holding 22,000 gallons stood behind house retained , renovated in spanish style. spanish tower became landmark in cottesloe.

the building completed 1938. daughter mrs daphne faye , husband returned live in house. de bernales time had returned london , involved in disputes shareholders , in 1939 london stock exchange suspended companies. de bernales returned western australia once post-war , appears had no opportunity live in spanish mansion. in 1949 decision taken sell overton lodge.